£778,000+ Spent During Spink’s November World Banknotes Auction

On November 4, Spink hosted a 568-lot auction, offering items from the Savio Gomes collection of World Banknotes focused on Indian material and the Henry Lau collection of US and Canadian Banknotes. 

The lots that drew my attention were from Canada, Great Britain, Qatar and Dubai, and India. The first I would like to share with you is lot 530, a P65, Bank of Canada, 1937, $1,000 black on rose note featuring Sir Wilfred Laurier at center. Bearing the Signatures of Osborne and Towers and an allegorical back, the PMG graded 65 Gem Uncirculated EPQ note estimated at £12,000-£18,000 sold within estimate for £13,000. 

The second offering I watched, lot 171, was a printer’s design of Great Britain’s P389, £6, ND, note which depicts Queen Elizabeth II at right. The back of the note includes a hummingbird, magnifying glass with Charles Darwin at right. The polymer prototype bearing the signature of Chris Salmon was graded PMG 66 Gem Uncirculated EPQ. The catalog description states, “This banknote was designed and printed for public consultation on moving to polymer. Very possibly unique in private hands and a wonderful find.” Estimated at £6,000- £8,000, the note sold for well above estimate for £18,000. 

The third offering I kept my eye on, lot 387, was a P5a, ND (1966) Qatar and Dubai, Currency Board 50 Riyals with the watermark of a Falcon’s head. PMG graded 45 Choice Extremely Fine, the note estimated at £15,000-£20,000 sold for slightly below the range at £14,000. 

The final two lots I followed were both from India. The first, lot 188, was a P S127r, ND (1823-1827) 250 Sicca Rupees unissued British, Bank of Hindostan note printed by Perkins Bacon. The note features highly decorative borders and bears no signatures. Estimated at £10,000-£12,000, the lot hammered in heavily at £50,000. The second India lot I watched was number 194, a PA19Af, 1914- 1915 British Administration 1000 Rupees note. Signed by C.W.C. Carson, the note graded by PMG as 25 Very Fine was estimated at £16,000-£18,000. The note realized £15,000 at close which was just beneath the range. 

There were a lot of interesting rarities included in this sale. It was a nice offering for collectors in spite of the adaptions having to be made due to the global Covid 19 pandemic. It is nice to see banknotes so appreciated by their community. I look forward to upcoming Spink offerings. For additional information please visit www.spink.com.